DIY Wooden $5 IPad Dock / Stand

You might have seen the $5 iPad Dock (or €5 iPad Stand) on the internet (Lifehacking, Wired, TUAW, CrunchGear) and thought 'I can do that'. And of course, why not? I'll save you the trouble of finding out exactly how to make it, by giving you the exact instructions to make your own wooden iPad Stand.

After three days of testing we can confirm the wood doesn’t scratch the iPad, the iPad doesn’t fall over when you tap the screen and you can use it horizontally while charging :)

Materials:
- Piece of nice wood (130 x 80 x 24 mm or 5.1 x 3.1 x 0.9 inch if you prefer)

Tools needed:
- Saw
- Drill
- Large diameter drill bit (we use 19mm)
- Sandpaper

Or 5.1 x 3.1 x 0.9 inch if you prefer

This creates a small hole for easy access to the iPad's home button. Of course you can do this last, but we found it easiest to do first.

Find the middle of the short side and mark it 17mm to the inside. This will be the center point of the small hole. Drill a hole, about 10mm deep. We use a large diameter drill bit (19mm, see picture) to create a nice, smooth hole.

From the side of your block where you cut the 10mm hole, on the short side measure off 17mm and 30mm. This is where you make cuts at 27deg., the place where your beloved iPad will sit. Go 15mm deep and clean it out well.

You can do this the hard way and use a handsaw, or go the easy way and use an adjustable table saw. 

Make the stand as smooth as you can by sanding down. Make sure the edges of the small hole are smooth so it won't scratch your iPad.

Congrats, you saved yourself a couple of bucks and hopefully had a good time making the iPad Stand.